Customer Reviews

Miniplanner: A Novel

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've just finished reading "Miniplanner" and the main reaction I have -- and have had throughout the time reading it -- is disappointment.

It seems odd to describe a novel that involves so many sexual encounters as boring -- especially when those encounters supposedly involve a great deal of strategizing in order to keep the central lovers (a husband and wife) from colliding. I think this is due to some very weak characterizations. But the author also fails utterly by making the sex scenes seem no more interesting than doing laundry.

The worst of the novel though deals with the descriptions of the workplace. I don't think you have to do too much research into the inner workings of a metropolitan bank in order to create something that rings true. However, the author doesn't manage this -- her main character seems amazingly uninvolved in the actual daily life of a workplace and has improbably too much time to dedicate to arranging his extracurricular activities -- time that he no doubt needs!

As I read, I couldn't help wonder -- does the author mean to present or omit certain details in order to use the first-person voice to build the character? In the end, I feel that this may have been attempted but not done successfully.

Oh well...unlike other reviewers, I cannot say "nice try". I think I'd be more interested in the story regarding how this book came to be published than the actual book itself. So instead I will say "good job at promoting the book despite its lack of merit".

And -- I think there is also reason to be skeptical of these 5 star reviews that all gush about how hard it was to put the book down. Friends of the author? Friends of the publisher?

I will admit that I had some trouble putting the book down myself. That was when I dozed off and it fell from my hands!

I was intrigued by the notion of a lesbian writing from the perspective of a gay man. This served as my impetus for reading the book. All I can say is that Abha simply did not pull it off. The situations struck me as implausible, the story trite and contrived and the whole theme and premise was just boring - I mean seriously, the sex lives of Wall street types? In all fairness Abha did set upon a very difficult task in writing this, but the best she accomplished was a light, puffy book. If America were ready for gay themes I'd say look for this as a movie of the week. However, if your interest is good literature, give it a pass.

Abha manages to inject lightness into a subject that all too often puts us to sleep with overly-creative language. That subject is sex. And Abha's language remains familiar, while being interesting in its own way. Thanks to this familiarity, we can easily follow the story of Andre-the-Abusive-Lover and do not have to try to decipher where exactly he put his fist last time he bedded Nathan or Sybil. With regard to the creative side of the book's language, one of Abha's great virtues is that she feels at home with the little idiosyncrasies of India-influenced English. She mixes Britishisms with Americanisms and every so often uses phrases or words that tend to be preferred by Indian Americans more than by the average WASP. As a result, her narrative better reflects the discourse of New York--a city of immigrants--and conveys well the city's atmosphere. Consequently, Abha manages to put together a book that holds both narrative and linguistic interest that she interweaves to great effect.

a really interesting and unique story that has a lot of potential but unfortunately falls a bit flat because the reader is never completely attached with any of the characters, let alone the main character. and, without this the reader can never fully appreciate the character's motivations (if there are any). you end up feeling like these people are self-indulgent messes with no depth. it's disappointing, because the story is unique and bold, and has a lot of potential. it's still worth a read because there isn't much like this out there.

Reading Miniplanner is an erotic and provocative seduction. On his first day in a high-powered, successful bank in Manhattan, Andre Bernard embarks on a wild and sexual journey of lust, love and secrecy that cannot be sustained without the aid of his miniplanner. The story is written with an absorbing use of dialogue that would perhaps welcome the reader to inhabit Andre's skin, ride the tumultuous love affairs he endures, and marvel at his abilities to embrace gender fluidity. In addition to the stormy sexual scenes written with abandon, Miniplanner is delightfully peppered with reflections and deliberations as Andre contemplates his experiences and engagements with his lovers Nathan and Sybil, and the other characters in his life. Andre's messy entanglements are both exasperating and comical, but his humanity and sensitivity are not lost in the novel. The pace of the story is dramatic and emotional; Abha Dawesar writes in a candid and unabashed manner that is absolutely riveting. A must read for an exhilarating ride.

Miniplanner was great entertainment. It was a racy, quick read and flowed smoothly. Full of twists and a real farce the book is both funny and at moments profound.

I borrowed Mini Planner from a friend to help me pass time while I was sitting in attendance at the bed side of a comatose relative. I donot normally buy and read books that have detailed descriptions of sex scenes so I was skeptical about being able to read this book to the end. However, once I started, I only interrupted my reading once. I was amazed at the oringinality of the story. I had heard of extra marital affairs and two timing lovers but this one was the most original one I had come across and I found myself impatient to know how it would end. Throughout, my interest not only remained but kept building up and when I put down the book, it was with a good feeling. Often, I have read boooks where the ending has been disappointing but here, I felt, Dawesar should be complimented on the neat ending. The story while superficially making Andre out to be a sex maniac goes deeper demonstrating Andre's actions of sympathy towards his former girlfriend when she loses her parent, his concern for his unborn child and eventually the realisation of his priorities in terms of relationships, whether emotional or sexual. A must read in terms of its original story line. Wake up you film makers... it could be an inexpensive venture which is guaranteed to succeed at the box office.

I am grateful to the friend who sent me a copy of Miniplanner a novel by Abha Dawesar. It is a remarkable novel by a young womanabout a gay young man who has just shifted to New York.The author has gotten under the skin of the characters she has created.She describes in detail the feelings and experiences of this sex driven gay man.The story progresses in the most natural way leading the man in delightfully complicated situations.Narrated in crisp and simple English the author compels the reader to read on till he reaches the racy climax and an unexpected end. It is a daring novel which deals with the modern day sexuality in a non judgemental way and leaves it to the sensibilities of the reader.A must read for all especially those whose destination is New York.

I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down. The female author did a great job writing as a gay man...I know as a gay man I was very drawn into several scenes. It just goes to show you that passion knows no boundaries. I would highly recommend this as a light fun read.

A modern twist on the classic love triangle, Miniplanner was a great read & a wild ride. I lost sleep because I couldn't put this book down. The story and its telling was certainly engaging, the charachters well crafted and the ending thoughtful - thankfully not melodramatic or unrealistic.